IndyCar engine supplier Honda’s comments on the cost of participating in the series have drawn the attention of team owner Chip Ganassi.
The Japanese manufacturer recently said it has “great concerns” over the cost of remaining in IndyCar beyond when its current contract expires in 2026, particularly with the introduction of hybrid power next year.
The manufacturer will power 13 full-time entries next year. In addition to Ganassi’s five-car team, Andretti, Meyer Shank and RLL will all use Honda engines
Ganassi said he’d “heard those same comments that we all read, and I really haven’t caught up with Honda lately, or haven’t caught up with them yet to discuss what exactly they mean and where they’re headed.”
“But I think it’s certainly got our attention and it’s something we have to keep a close eye on,” he added.
IndyCar announced last week that, after three months of teams testing hybrid units alongside their existing 2.2-litre turbocharged V6 engines, the new systems will not be introduced ready until after the Indianapolis 500.
Such a move would mean two sets of technical regulations being used within a single year. The series gave no further details given on how a mid-season switch will be made possible or exactly when it will take place.
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Ganassi, whose team has done extensive running during the test phase of IndyCar’s hybrid plans, called the decision “unfortunate” but said he supported it.
“It’s interesting,” he said in response to a question from RaceFans. “It takes a lot of things to come together to make an announcement that you’re going to go hybrid. And I think it takes an equal number, it’s equally difficult to announce that it’s going to be delayed.
“It’s unfortunate, no question. But, it’s probably the right decision, knowing all I know. And from what I understand, it was probably the right decision to make. Sure, it’s not our first choice, I wouldn’t say it’s the optimum thing to do to delay, but it is the right thing to do with everything I know.”
He downplayed concerns over the complications of changing engine formulas halfway through IndyCar’s tightly-packed calendar of races.
“If they bring it in halfway through the season, I don’t think it’s as big a deal as people would think. In the testing that we’ve done with the hybrid, the teams are going to find it very easy to transmit over to that programme when the time comes. I don’t see that as a big thing.”
He is concerned the series’ switch to hybrid power does not negatively impact the quality of its races.
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“We want to make sure it’s right when it’s ready for primetime and then bring it along. But not too soon to discourage the type of great racing we have right now. I don’t think we want to do anything to impede that.
“Our on-track product is very, very good right now: More on-track passes than any open-wheel series in the world, I think, right now. So I think that speaks for itself in terms of IndyCar. We don’t want to mess that, or we don’t want to mess up the greatest spectacle in racing, which is the Indianapolis 500.
“So I think if the hybrid comes along some time after that, it’ll be fine, and it won’t be such a big challenge.”
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